Nominations for City of Newcastle’s 2024 Citizen of the Year Awards are now open.
These prestigious awards recognize outstanding contributions to the community, with categories including Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year, and Community Group of the Year within the Newcastle Local Government Area.
Nominations are open to anyone who has made a positive impact on the community, whether they are well-known figures or unsung heroes.
“We all know Newcastle is a great place to live and it’s the people in our community who continue to make the city better each year,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said
“Now is the time to nominate someone who’s made a difference in Newcastle. It doesn’t have to be a familiar name or a high-profile achiever, it could be a friend or neighbour, colleague, or a local group.
“This is your chance to tell us about an unsung hero whose efforts deserve formal recognition.”
Past recipients have found the award to be a platform for further advocacy and change.
Nathan Towney, the 2023 Citizen of the Year and Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Strategy and Leadership at the University of Newcastle, used the recognition to amplify discussions about Indigenous affairs.
“As a proud Wiradjuri man, I was honoured to be given this award and have the chance to encourage more discussion around the issues facing First Nations people,” Mr Towney said.
“I’m very grateful to those people who have done a lot of hard work in this region and this city and I want to acknowledge them. I wouldn’t be able to do what I do in this space without the foundations that have been laid before me.
“I want to encourage everyone in Newcastle to think about nominating someone who is fighting for a worthy cause.”
Nominations for the Citizen of the Year Awards are open until 19 November 2023 and can be submitted on the City of Newcastle’s website.
